Presented by Heartbreak Revue (Tom Burns @coppermaesteal and Jarrod Dobell @velvetcrushhhh) on February 18th, 2023 at Raynham Park on Karangahape Road
In mid-December of 2022, I was recruited by Auckland-based drag and performance art duo Copper Steal and Velvet Crush. The event, sponsored by Auckland Pride for their 2023 Full Pride Programme, aims to offer an experience of drag and ballroom (among other performance art) from some of the best artists our city has to offer, presented and connected through the roots of queer identity. The cast includes: Velvet Crush, Mother Honey Givenchy, Silva Steal, Copper Steal, Manila Sativa, Jonjon, Solari, Misty Frequencies, Jordán, and Ego.
My job was to direct the cast of 10 performers through a series of outlines presented by Steal and Crush, inspired by artists such as Karolina Kranovaite and Alberto Rega. This involved capturing video footage for a 2-minute 'intro', or teaser video, both for social media and the Auckland Pride website, to set the tone for the variety of performers within the production. Photos of the entire cast, shot individually and together, were also captured for additional promotional material online as well as physical media to be posted around the CBD prior to the event.
All photography + videography by yours truly, with some additional editing by Steal and Crush.
Teaser imagery for the event's social media and the Auckland Pride programme
Official individual imagery for each performer's social media
Promotional video shot for Instagram reels
Introduction video - played on overhead projection onto the stage before the series of performances during the event (Videography by me, edited by Tom Burns @coppermaesteal and Jarrod Dobell @velvetcrushhhh
Some additional bts imagery shot on the night of event + during rehearsals